FaultScore

2005 Pontiac Vibe window and wiper problems

18 of the 337 complaints about the 2005 Pontiac Vibe are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 59,459 miles.

A

18

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Power Window Devices AND Controls 7 38.9%
Glass, Side/Rear 6 33.3%
Visibility 3 16.7%
Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System 1 5.6%
Visibility/Wiper 1 5.6%

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers across every Pontiac Vibe year

2003 81 41.5%
2004 82 42.1%
2005 18 9.2%
2009 14 7.2%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 215,000 miles Aurora, IN

VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE REAR WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 215,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10937799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 97,584 miles Syracuse, NY

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. CODES: PO441 EVAP EMISSIONS PURGE FLOW FAULT P2420 SOLENOID CONTROL CIRCUIT HIGH VOLTAGE IN COLD WEATHER 35 DEGREES F OR LOWER ENGINE IDLES ERRATICALLY BETWEEN 1500 TO 2000 RPM AND LOSES POWER WHEN ACCELERATING. ENGINE DOES NOT REACH NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE FOR FIRST 5 MILES OF DRIVING. HEATER/DEFROSTER WORKS POORLY FOR FIRST 5 MILES OF DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #10374616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Kutztown, PA

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 5 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW MADE AN UNUSUALLY LOUD NOISE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V162000 (VISIBILITY: GLASS, SIDE/REAR) AND CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE HE WAS ADVISED HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.

NHTSA complaint #10332181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 125,000 miles Grosse Pointe Farms, MI

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

FOR THE SECOND TIME NOW, THE FRONT DRIVER & PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS OF MY 2005 PONTIAC VIBE FAIL TO GO UP AND DOWN (HOLDING CLIP FAILED). THE WINDOWS GET "COCKED" WHEN TRYING TO LOWER/RAISE. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED IT (NEW) AND HAD IT REPAIRED AT THE DEALER (UNDER WARRANTY). IT HAS HAPPENED A SECOND TIME, APPROXIMATELY 4 YEARS LATER. I NOTICED THERE WERE RECALLS ISSUED FOR THIS VERY SAME ISSUE ON 2003 & 2004 PONTIAC VIBES, BUT NOTHING FOR 2005 VIBES (EVEN THOUGH I BELIEVE THE ISSUE IS THE SAME FOR 2005 VIBES AS IT WAS FOR 2003 & 2004 MODEL YEARS - THE SOLUTION WAS REPLACEMENT WITH A STRONGER CLIP).

NHTSA complaint #10316252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Roseville, MI

VISIBILITY

SIMPLY ROLLING THE WINDOW UP OR DOWN. I HAD THE LF POWER WINDOW REPAIRED 5 TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. NOW THE RF WINDOW HAS THE SAME PROBLEM, THE GLASS HAS COME LOOSE AND COCKS UNEVENLY WHILE ROLLING DOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10297459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,819 miles Pleasant Gardens, NC

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. AS A CONSEQUENCE THE GLASS UNWARRANTLY SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED AT HIS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 65,819.

NHTSA complaint #10285010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 19,300 miles Olean, NY

VISIBILITY

FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW HAS MADE A POPPING NOISE WHEN ROLLED DOWN MORE THAN HALF WAY SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2005. IT ROLLED UP AND DOWN FINE SO I DIDN'T THINK MUCH ABOUT IT. TWO WEEKS AGO I TRIED TO GET OUT OF THAT DOOR. THE DOOR WOULDN'T OPEN MORE THAN A FEW INCHES. I HAD TO CLIMB OVER TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR TO GET OUT. I HAD TO ROLL UP THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW AND SPRAY THE DOOR CHECK LINK WITH A LOT OF WD40 TO GET IT OPEN. THE DOOR SEEMED TO OPEN AND CLOSE OK AFTER THAT, BUT THE POPPING NOISE CONTINUED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. DEALER SAID THE WINDOW GLASS (WHEN ROLLED DOWN) WAS TOUCHING THE DOOR CHECK LINK, CAUSING THE ISSUES. THEY HAD TO REPOSITION THE LINK AND CLEARANCE BRACKET TO FIX WINDOW.

NHTSA complaint #10277290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 59,459 miles Mohegan Lake, NY

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER DUE TO A CLICKING NOISE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT HEAR THE NOISE AND THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING NORMALLY. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW EXPLODED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE WINDOW REPLACED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND INFORMED THEM THAT SHE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE WITH THE 2004 VIBE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY RECORD OF THE FAILURE AND COULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,459 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 07/29/08 *BF UPDATED 08/07/08

NHTSA complaint #10232906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 49,000 miles Houston, TX

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC VIBE. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MADE A NOISE AND FELL OFF TRACK INTO THE DOOR. AN AUTO GLASS SPECIALIST ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE WINDOW ON THREE OCCASIONS AND STATED THAT PONTIAC MAY HAVE A RELATED RECALL. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL THE GLASS UP WITH HER HAND AND WAS UNABLE TO ROLL THE WINDOW UP OR DOWN. THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW IS CURRENTLY MAKING NOISE AS IF IT WILL SOON FALL OFF TRACK AS WELL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000. UPDATED 05/01/08 UPDATED 06/09/08 *BF UPDATED 06/09/08

NHTSA complaint #10226011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Maynard, MA

VISIBILITY

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT POWER WINDOW MAKES LOUD POPPING NOISE WHEN OPERATING SIMILAR TO 08V162000 RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR '03-'04 MODELS.

NHTSA complaint #10225789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 32,000 miles Greenwood, IN

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

MY AUTOMATIC DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MAKES A POPPING NOISE EVERY TIME IT IS LOWERED. IT MAY NOT BE ALIGNED OR INSTALLED PROPERLY AND I AM AFRAID IT WILL SHATTER.

NHTSA complaint #10225663 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Houston, TX

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

AFTER READING ABOUT THE GM/TOYOTA RECALL OF THE POWER WINDOW BOLTS BECOMING LOOSE ON 2003-2004 PONTIAC VIBES, I TOOK OFF THE INSIDE PANEL OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. MY WIFE HAD BEEN COMPLAINING OF THE WINDOW CATCHING. AFTER TAKING OFF THE PANEL, I FOUND THE POWER WINDOW BOLTS TO BE LOOSE. THE 2003-2004 POWER WINDOW RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO 2005.

NHTSA complaint #10224221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 20,000 miles Detroit, MI

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

FRONT POWER WINDOW REGULATOR PROBLEM ; FRONT DRIVER-SIDE WINDOW IS LOOSE WITHIN REGULATOR ; TAKEN TO DEALER IN FALL 2006 FOR REPAIR WITHIN WARRANTY PERIOD ; REPAIR ONLY TEMPORARILY CORRECTED PROBLEM (FOR LESS THAN 2 MONTHS); SITUATION HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE SINCE; AUTHOR OF THIS COMPLAINT BELIEVES WINDOW LIKELY COULD SEPARATE FROM REGULATOR IN SHORT TERM LEADING TO COMPROMISED OCCUPANT PROTECTION OR IN WORST CASE SUDDEN DISTRACTION WHICH COULD CAUSE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE; COMPLAINT WRITER IS AWARE THERE IS A RECALL FOR MODEL YEAR 2003 AND 2004 PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES FOR FAILURE OF WINDOW REGULATOR RETENTION FASTENER.

NHTSA complaint #10224059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Hart, MI

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WINDOW SHATTERED, HITTING DRIVER WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH. DAMAGE TO DRIVER'S SIDE OF CAR. REPLACED GLASS WITH NEW, REPAINTED SIDE OF CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10205215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,000 miles Emporia, VA

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOWS IN MY VEHICLE HAVE BEEN POPPING AND CATCHING IN MY CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL. IT HAS RUINED MY WINDOW TINT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND I AS WELL AS HAVING THE DRIVERS SIDE SHATTER ON ME ONE TIME. I AM AFRAID THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AS IT IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING. *TR UPDATED 10/24/07

NHTSA complaint #10205053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 33,000 miles Carrollton, TX

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW POPS WHEN RAISING THE WINDOW TO ITS FULLY CLOSED POSITION. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE GLASS IS CRACKING OR BREAKING. ITS NOT SHATTERED, BUT I FEEL THAT IT WILL ONE DAY. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME THE WINDOW IS RAISED; USUALLY HAPPENS APPROX. 50% OF THE TIME. THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS. HOWEVER IT WAS SHATTERED BY A BURGLAR AND WAS REPLACED. SINCE THAT TIME, NO POPPING SOUND HAS BEEN HEARD. I WOULD REPLACE THE DRIVERS WINDOW PROACTIVE, HOWEVER THE COST IS GREATER THAN $250.00 USD.

NHTSA complaint #10202473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 72,300 miles Albuquerque, NM

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

ON SATURDAY JULY 21 THE REAR WINDOW OF MY PONTIAC VIBE (2005 WITH 72500 MILES) BLEW UP. THERE WAS A HIGH PITCH SOUND ABOUT 5 SECONDS BEFORE THE EVENT AND THEN MY WINDOW JUST SHATTERED. I HAVE ALL OF THE PARTS TO THE WINDOW, IN CASE YOU COULD TELL ME WHO I CAN TAKE THE DEVICE TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS A DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #10197247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50 miles Massillon, OH

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

WE BOUGHT A NEW PONTIAC VIBE IN APRIL. ON A TRIP TOCLEVELAND WE FOUND OUT IT IS NOT SAFE. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH VISIBILITY IN THE REAR BECAUSE OF A POOR DESIGN. I HAD TO AVOID 4 POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS. THE DRIVER CANNOT SEE OTHERS APPROACHING IN ATHER LANES AT HIGH SPEEDS. I COMPLAINED TO GM, BUT THEY HAVE IGNORED ME. I ALSO COMPLAINED TO YOU IN APRIL. HAS ANYTHING BEED DONE?

NHTSA complaint #10127866 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2005 Pontiac Vibe problems

← Full 2005 Pontiac Vibe report